<![CDATA[Good Neighbor Stories]]> https://newsroom.statefarm.com/ en-us Wed, 09 Sep 2026 19:31:37 +0200 Mon, 21 Mar 2022 19:30:54 +0100 <![CDATA[Good Neighbor Stories]]> https://content.presspage.com/clients/150_1441.jpg https://newsroom.statefarm.com/ 144 Time to Refocus Teen Driving Behaviors https://newsroom.statefarm.com/refocus-teen-driving-behaviors-ntdsw/ https://newsroom.statefarm.com/refocus-teen-driving-behaviors-ntdsw/418940New study reveals teens take their eyes off the road to focus on cellphones.About State Farm:

For over 100 years, the mission of State Farm has been to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance combined in the United States. Its more than 19,200 agent offices and over 62,000 employees serve over 96 million policies and accounts – including auto, fire, life, health, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 32 on the 2025 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com. 

]]>A new State Farm® online survey examines teen attitudes and behaviors about the use of smartphones while driving. This is what teens say:

  • Nine out of ten teenage drivers say they engage in at least one smartphone behavior while driving.
  • Parents influence their teenage children. Teens whose parents use cellphones while driving were more likely to do the same.
  • Teens report using phones while driving despite finding such activities distracting and believing they can increase the likelihood of a crash.
  • Teens who have been in an accident have a higher tendency to use their phone when behind the wheel.
  • Many teens reported driving a vehicle equipped with an advanced safety feature: automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, or lane keeping assist. These teens more likely engaged in distracted smartphone behaviors while driving than those who drove vehicles without safety features. Teens are comfortable taking their eyes off the road to focus on other tasks when the safety systems are active. This is a dangerous combination.

“Drivers who engage in distracting behaviors while behind the wheel are making the decision to put themselves, their passengers and other road users at risk,“ said Laurel Straub, Assistant Vice President of Enterprise Research at State Farm. “Unfortunately, this risk often leads to crashes, injuries, and fatalities. These tragedies are preventable.”

For teens, parents are an important role model in the car.

"Our data shows that teens who admit to using a smartphone while driving are more likely to have a parent or guardian who also uses a phone while driving,” Straub added.

 

When learning hands-on driving skills it's important to:

  • Eliminate distractions when behind the wheel.
  • Practice your driving skills with your parents.
  • Enroll in drivers education courses. 
  • Review state graduated drivers licensing laws.
  • Establish restrictions, boundaries and curfews. 

Tips to avoid distractions while driving (not just for teens!):

  • Put the phone away. Set it to send an automatic reply while driving – no texts, internet, selfies or social media.
  • Adjust controls -  GPS, radios, air conditioning, or mirrors – before driving.
  • If you must call, pull over and park in a safe place or ask your passenger to call.
  • Always, always have your head in the game – drive safe.

 

More safety help is available. Our auto insurance discount programs like State Farm Drive Safe & SaveTM and Steer Clear® help you save while also improving your driving habits. Steer Clear reinforces safe driving habits in young drivers under age 25.

 

Did you know...

Texting is banned for all drivers in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Missouri bans texting for drivers 21 and younger. Montana has no texting ban. Cellphone usage is restricted for young drivers in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Cellphone use laws by state
Traffic crashes are a leading cause of death for teens. Impairment, passengers, distractions from mobile phones and navigation systems, speeding, and not wearing a seat belt are among the major contributing factors to the number of teen injuries and fatalities on our nation’s roads each year.
Innovations such as Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keeping Assist are designed to make our roadways safer. However, these systems are meant to assist drivers, not replace them.
Even with these technologies in place, it’s important for drivers to pay attention when behind the wheel. Research shows that keeping your hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road decreases the odds of crash involvement.

Types of Driving Distractions:

  • Visual – eyes off road
  • Cognitive – mind off driving task
  • Manual – hands off steering wheel
Human error is the attributing factor in 94 percent of motor vehicle crashes in the United States.1
In 2018, distracted driving factored into approximately 14% (938,000) of all police-reported crashes, resulting in at least 2,841 deaths and an estimated 400,000 injuries.2
As of 2019, 81% of Americans owned a smartphone and 96 % of young adults (under 30) owned a smartphone.3

*Source: 1, 2 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; 3 Pew Research Center

     

 

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]]> Fri, 16 Oct 2020 14:03:00 -0500 https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1441/500_101620ntdswhero.jpg?10000 https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1441/101620ntdswhero.jpg?10000 Smartphones While Driving: We Know It’s Risky. So Why Do We Do It? https://newsroom.statefarm.com/8th-state-farm-distracted-driving-survey/ https://newsroom.statefarm.com/8th-state-farm-distracted-driving-survey/182565Annual survey from State Farm™ explores reasons for using a cellphone while driving.In August 2016, the State Farm Strategic Resources Department used an outside panel vendor to conduct an online survey of U.S. consumers ages 18 and over. Survey responses were received from approximately 1,000 consumers who reported owning a cellphone, having a valid driver's license and driving at least one hour per week. A number of changes were made to the survey research in 2016 such that results in this report should not be compared with the results in the 2015 "Distracted Driving" report also produced by State Farm, except where noted.

]]>About State Farm:

For over 100 years, the mission of State Farm has been to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance combined in the United States. Its more than 19,200 agent offices and over 62,000 employees serve over 96 million policies and accounts – including auto, fire, life, health, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 32 on the 2025 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com. 

]]>Cellphone activities prominent in 8th annual report of attitudes/behaviors behind risky and illegal driving distractions.

]]>State Farm today released the results of its eighth survey exploring attitudes and behaviors regarding distracted driving. The report follows major trends in cellphone use and explores many of the distractions that take eyes, hands and minds off driving.

Nearly all drivers, 91 percent, reported owning a smartphone, and more than half say they use them while driving. Though distracted driving continues to be all too common, the news is not all bad. After several years of steady increases in distracting cellphone activities, only taking pictures and recording videos saw significant increases this year.

Relationship between cellphone use and crashes

The report shows a significant relationship between self-reported rates of cellphone use and self-reported number of crashes. People who indicated they use their cellphones while driving were more likely to have been in a crash compared to those who said they rarely or never use their phones while driving.

Cellphone use is an indication of other risky driving behaviors

Survey respondents were asked about the various types of smartphone activities they participate in. They were also questioned about other risky driving behaviors such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, racing, failing to wear a seatbelt, and driving while drowsy. The relationship was clear. The greater the number of smartphone activities drivers engaged in while behind the wheel, the more likely they were to participate in other risky behaviors as well.

Drivers know the risk, but can’t resist

Survey respondents reported using smartphones while driving despite finding them distracting. And despite thinking the behavior increases the likelihood of a crash. When asked why, they provided reasons such as improved efficiency, need to stay in touch, habit, searching for information on the internet, and seeing something they want to share.

“Today’s drivers are faced with an ever-growing number of demands on their attention that may distract them from the critical task of driving,” said Chris Mullen, Director of Technology Research at State Farm.

“Every day we make choices about the risks we are willing to take when behind the wheel. We encourage everyone to take personal responsibility in adopting safer driving habits, for the benefit of themselves, their families, and all who share our roadways.”

The survey was conducted as part of our ongoing research into highway safety issues. It did not involve any policyholder claim information. The full survey can be found here.

 

 

The survey said,

 

Related Story: Avoid This Potentially Fatal Driving Condition

 

 

Related Story: Have You Driven While Distracted? 8 Culprits to Avoid

 

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